Supporters Direct Briefing (Monday 3rd September)

3rd September, 2012

Co-operatives United – October 31st, National Football Museum
As part of the Co-operatives United event in Manchester (click here for details), Supporters Direct and the Co-operative Group are hosting a joint reception at the National Football Museum on the evening of Wednesday October 31st. As part of the reception we are hoping to have a ‘Trust Marketplace’ with stands from community owned clubs and supporters’ trusts, which highlight the great work you all do in your local communities.

If you are interested in having a stand at the event, or would like further information, please contact Vicki Goodfellow.

SD supporting Non League Day 2012
SD are proud to be supporting this year’s Non League Day, which takes place on October 13th. We will be promoting specific offers from clubs to attract fans through the gates, so if you have any on the go, please send contact details of your club, the game in question and the promotional offer over to Leigh Hine.

Additionally, SD partners UK Soccer Shop have developed an online store to celebrate Non League Day, which can be viewed by clicking here. These bespoke design products are available to all SD trusts and fully customisable with logos and lettering – so why not get some in for the new season? A percentage of every item sold goes back to the Trust, so the more you sell, the more you make! To find out more, please contact Leigh Hine.

Trust News

One of our own takes to the catwalk
This October Doug Harper, 50, an activist and director of the Leyton Orient Fans’ Trust, will conquer the catwalk to show you can look glamorous and feel amazing after breast cancer diagnosis. He will be taking part in Breast Cancer Care’s London Fashion Show on Wednesday October 3rd at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London. For more details, please click here or visit Doug’s blog.

PST bid for Portsmouth on track
The Pompey Supporters’ Trust are continuing to work tirelessly towards realising their aim of bringing Portsmouth FC into community ownership, with advice and support from SD. The last month has seen many twists and turns, but one thing has remained clear – the PST bid is the only one which has the interests of the club and community at its heart. Hopefully we will be able to celebrate some positive news in the coming weeks.

Chester FC – it’s like 1992 all over again
To mark 20 years of football at Bumpers Lane, Chester FC decided to charge 1992 prices for their first home game of the season, against Workington on August 22nd – and were rewarded with a bumper attendance of 3007 (with a 1-0 victory to boot).

Further good news for the club has followed in the last week, with the announcement that a Cable & Wireless Worldwide Foundation Grant has been awarded. This will enable the club to run a live commentary service for supporters with visual impairments at home (and potentially away) matches. For more details, click here.

Fulham Supporters’ Trust show solidarity with MUST Green & Gold campaign
At Old Trafford on August 25th, there were even more green and gold scarves on display than usual, as members of the Fulham Supporters’ Trust chose to show solidarity with MUST and don the scarves – setting aside on-pitch rivalries. To read more, visit the MUST blog.

In other MUST news, the Trust have this month mobilised their membership and sent over a million individual messages to the sponsors and bankers associated with the controversial IPO instigated by the Glazer family. For more information, click here.

Argyle Fans’ Trust – a different approach to shares
Ahead of their SGM on August 17th, the Argyle Fans’ Trust took the step of publishing the discussions centring around an offer of purchasing a shareholding made by club owner James Brent. The aim of the document was to help gauge the views of supporters before entering into a formal consultation. To find out more, click here.

Bradford City Supporters’ Trust welcomes new Supporters Board
The Bradford City Supporters’ Trust have welcomed the decision from the club to set up a new Supporters’ Board, and are hoping that it will facilitate the development of a real structured relationship between the club and supporters. To find out more, click here.

News from Scotland

Notice of election to the SD Scotland Council
Nominations are now being sought in the election to the Supporters Direct Scotland Council, with a total of three seats available. For more information, please click here.

Welcome Andrew Jenkin!
SD was delighted this month to welcome a new member of staff at our Glasgow office – Network Support Officer Andrew Jenkin. Andrew joins us having completed a degree in Journalism, Film and Media at Stirling University. He is also a founder and trustee of the charity Africa On The Ball. Welcome Andrew!

Killie Trust aiming for a community club
Saturday August 18th saw the Killie Trust hold a meeting to discuss methods of raising finance to achieve one of its main objectives – community ownership of their club. Among the attendees was Cathy Jamieson MP, a real friend of the Trust movement. The Trust are now working in partnership with the club, SD Scotland and other stakeholders to realise their goal. Follow them on Twitter @TheKillieTrust and visit their website by clicking here.

Dundee FC publish latest KPIs
Dundee FC, the UK’s first supporter owned top flight club, have recently published their latest Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which further demonstrated their commitment to sustainable practices and living within their means. Click here for further details.

News from Europe

EC Project – survey set for launch
As part of the European Commission-funded ‘Improving Football Governance through Supporter Involvement and Community Ownership’ project, Supporters Direct and our project partners will be surveying football supporters across Europe on a range of issues relating to football governance and supporter ownership. To find out more, click here.

Work shadowing opportunities for new SLOs
As the supporter liaison officer (SLO) role is a new position in most UEFA member states, work shadowing will be an important part of SLO training as the project is rolled out across Europe. A number of governing bodies are including work shadowing as part of their training offerings for new SLOs, and in some countries SLOs are organising such visits themselves. To find out more, click here.

FASFE calls on LFP to end late kick-off times
For a number of years, the Spanish football authorities have chosen to follow a kick-off times policy that all too often does not take supporters into account. To find out how SD affiliate members FASFE are responding to this, click here.

Beitar Jerusalem Supporters’ Trust secure landmark directors’ agreement
Following a period of negotiations and fundraising efforts, Beitar Jerusalem Supporters’ Trust have recently agreed a landmark deal to secure three directors on the board of their club, as well as an option to purchase a 100% stake in the club in three years’ time. To find out more, click here.

FARE Action Weeks, October 16th – 31st
The FARE Action Weeks are aimed at uniting supporters, clubs, ethnic minorities and communities affected by other forms of discrimination across the continent in a concerted effort to make discrimination a thing of the past. To find out how you can be a part of this year’s initiatives, click here.